How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and significant – dates throughout thirty years of conflict in this area.

Throughout the area of the incident – the images of that fateful day are painted on the structures and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The protest was opposing the practice of internment – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place after multiple years of conflict.

Father Daly waved a bloodied fabric while attempting to shield a group moving a young man, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest waved a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to defend a group carrying a young man, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a religious figure, the priest, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a group carrying a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

News camera operators captured much footage on the day.

Documented accounts features Father Daly telling a reporter that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation concluded the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that not one of the victims had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Families of the casualties of the tragic event fatalities walk from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the municipal center carrying pictures of their loved ones
Relatives of the victims of the Bloody Sunday shootings walk from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the civic building carrying pictures of their relatives

The police started to examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made over the killings of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, further individuals, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order maintaining the soldier's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at danger.

He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Information from the investigation could not be used directly as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the accused was screened from view using a protective barrier.

He made statements for the opening instance in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were read.

Kin and allies of those killed on that day hold a sign and images of the deceased
Family members and supporters of the deceased on that day carry a banner and images of the deceased

Family members of those who were killed on that day made the trip from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I remember the events in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the case – from the location, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived each detail during the evidence.

"Despite experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson

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